Compare towns
Lancaster vs Manchester vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lancaster | Manchester | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
115,643Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.